Riley Co., KS AHGP-Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington, Clay and Riley Counties-Joseph Moses
Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington, Clay and Riley Counties Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1890
JOSEPH MOSES, late a well-to-do and highly-respected resident of Swede Creek Township, Riley County, was born in the Kingdom of Bohemia, Austria, in the year 1853, and departed this life at his homestead in the above-mentioned township, Oct. 10, 1889. He came to America with his parents when a boy, and they settled at once in Blue Rapids Township, Marshall Co., Kan., where they acquired land and became well-to-do. The parents were Joseph and Paulina Moses, the former of whom is deceased. The latter is still residing at the old homestead, and is about seventy-six years old. She is the owner of 400 acres of land, and is surrounded by all the comforts of life�a lady highly respected and a member of the Lutheran Church. There were born to her and her husband six children, the eldest of whom, a daughter, Mary, died when about thirty-six years old. Michael and Katie are residents of Marshall County, this State; Joseph was the fourth child; Peter and Dwight are living in Marshall County.
Young Moses soon after coming to America, being then a lad of fifteen years, commenced working out, turning over his earnings to his father until reaching his majority. At the age of twenty-four years he was united in marriage with Miss Betty Warders, and the young people commenced the journey of life together without other means or resources than those which nature had bestowed upon them. Prior to this time Mrs. Moses had made her home with her uncle, the Hon. J. B. Webster, and with him they resided until the 1st of April, 1882. They then removed to the tract of land which Mr. Moses had previously purchased, and commenced in true pioneer style to build up a homestead. The story of the years which followed has often been detailed in the lives of those who began at the foot of the ladder in Northern Kansas, and whose industry and patience resulted in the accumulation of a comfortable property.
Mr. Moses in the course of time added to his real estate, and left to his widow 333 acres of well-improved land, all in one body, and beautifully situated on the Big Blue bottoms. It is watered by seven springs, all fenced and 100 acres under the plow. The buildings, without being pretentious, are all that is necessary for the comfort of the family, the shelter of stock and the storage of grain. The farm is chiefly devoted to the raising of graded cattle and Poland-China swine; two teams are used in its operations, which have always been conducted in the systematic manner which seldom fails of success. Mr. Moses was a man popular in his community, and exercised a marked influence in political affairs, being a stanch supporter of the Democratic party. In religion he was born and reared a Lutheran, and to the doctrines of this church faithfully adhered. Mrs. Moses is a lady more than ordinarily intelligent, keeping herself well informed in regard to topics of general interest, and fully sympathized with her husband in his political views. There was born to them only one child, a son, Willie, Dec. 17, 1877.
Mrs. Betty (Warders) Moses was born in Owensville. Ivy.. Dec. 18. 1858. and is the daughter of William and Mary J. (Wells) Warders, who were likewise natives of Bath County, that State. The maternal grandfather was Thomas Wells, a native of Bath County and a farmer, who, in 1859, emigrated overland to the Territory of Kansas, settling in Wells Township, Marshall County, joining his son John, who had preceded him to this region several years, and was the first settler on the Vermillion River. He homesteaded land, from which he improved a farm, and became the owner of several hundred acres, and he resided here until the death of his wife, in 1886, after which he made his home with his daughter. Mrs. Webster, until his demise, which occurred in 1888. His wife, Amanda (Warring) Wells, was likewise a native of Bath County, Ky., and died in 1886.
William Warders, the father of Mrs. Moses, was reared to agricultural pursuits, and owned a small farm in Bath County, Ky. In December, 1875, he sold out and removed to Marshall County, this State, with the intention of locating land, but he was taken suddenly ill, and died nine days after reaching his destination, at the home of his father-in-law, Thomas Wells. He was cut down in his prime, being only forty four years old. He had never succeeded in acquiring wealth, but was a good man in the broadest sense of the term, kind to his family, hospitable to his neighbors, and universally respected wherever known.
There were born to the parents of Mrs. Moses eight children, viz.: Jackson F., a farmer, residing near Bigelow, Marshall County; Susan B., who died when about twenty-nine years old; Betty; Frances. Mrs. Plummer, of Arizona; Molly, Mrs. Wilburn; John T., Charles E., these three residents of Bigelow; and James W., who makes his home with his sister Betty, Mrs. Moses. Mrs. Mary J. (Wells) Warders died in 1872. Mrs. Moses attended merely a subscription school during her childhood, duly receiving limited advantages. She, however, was more than ordinarily bright and thoughtful as a maiden, and improved every opportunity for reading and study at home, as likewise she has in later years, and is thus thoroughly well-informed, and a lady with whom an hour may always be spent in a pleasant and profitable manner. She came to Marshall County, Kan., in 1875, arriving at Irving on the 11th of March, and after living a little over two years with her uncle, Mr. Webster, was united in marriage March 25, 1877, with Mr. Moses. She proved a suitable partner to her husband, assisting him greatly in his labors and his worthy ambition, and to her was larpely due his success.
Fine lithographic portraits of Mr. Moses and his wife are shown elsewhere in this work.